JOHNSTON: FLORA OF MARGARITA ISLAND. 287 
more than two or three species in any one genus. The well marked 
exceptions to this are the large tropical genera Panicum, Epidendrum, 
Piper, Euphorbia, Croton, Cassia, and Solanum. The 644 species are 
distributed among 398 genera and in 98 families, the larger proportion 
being among the choripetalous groups. 
The families having the largest representation in the flora are as 
follows :— 
Genera Species 
Leguminosae 41 65 
Compositae 25 30 
Euphorbiaceae 14 31 
Gramineae 15 25 
Rubiaceae 13 17 
Solanaceae 11 23 
Verbenaceae ll 19 
Bromeliaceae 11 15 
Members of the Leguminosae are the most common plants. Every- 
where these shrubs and trees with their often numerous small leaflets 
are to be found. These have also some of the most striking flowers, 
as the Poinciana, the Caesalpinias, Tamarindus, the Cassias, and 
Calliandra. 
The paucity of the Compositae, on the other hand, and the incon- 
spicuous character of their flowers are remarkable when compared 
with the traits of the group in other regions, either tropical or temperate. 
Ia Margarita the family is chiefly represented by insignificant weeds. 
The lack of grasses and sedges, of course, is very striking to a trav- 
eler from the temperate regions. There is no such thing as turf and 
the few grasses that are to be found are rather scattered. 
One of the families that is largely represented in individuals if not 
in species is the Cactaceae, a group which covers the plains for miles. 
On Margarita there are twelve species of this family distributed in 
six genera. Of these, five are more or less tall and candelabra- 
shaped, with little or no secondary branching; two are melon-shaped, 
one (Pereskia) is a low much-branched tree, and one (Rhipsalis) is a 
small cord-like epiphyte. 
Another family, that of the Bromeliaceae, is characteristic not 
because of its few individuals but because of their striking colors 
and general appearance. All of the representatives of the eleven 
genera and fifteen species a rosette habit and more or less 
fleshy leaves. Their colors, too, are attractive. 
